Saddle up and ride along with one of
the greatest western storytellers of our time, John D. Nesbitt, in this
outstanding collection of short stories. If you’re looking for tales of danger,
action, and adventure, these tales deliver—along with plenty of western
justice. This anthology is a collection
of stories about men and women, guns and horses, wrongdoing and those who pay
the price—and will keep you wondering what’s around the next bend of these
DANGEROUS TRAILS…
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Showing posts with label John D. Nesbitt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John D. Nesbitt. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
New Release — Leaving the Lariat Trail by John D. Nesbitt
A young cowhand, Charles Landon, wants to go straight and break free from a crooked gang, but it won’t be easy. When his former associates hatch a plan to rustle cattle, Charles decides to move on—and the old gang members don’t believe he can be trusted.
As they begin to come after him one by one, he realizes he’s going to need to carry a gun—it’s the only way he can get out of LEAVING THE LARIAT TRAIL alive!
EXCERPT
As they begin to come after him one by one, he realizes he’s going to need to carry a gun—it’s the only way he can get out of LEAVING THE LARIAT TRAIL alive!
EXCERPT
“I’ve shot cows and left ‘em
lay.”
Burke said, “What for?”
“Part of the job.”
• ● •
Fred and Burke were quiet and
heavy-lidded as they sat in the two chairs by the stove. The whiskey bottle was
empty, and a cloud of tobacco smoke hung in the air. I found that the sewing
went just as well at the table as it did in my lap, so I didn’t mind sitting by
myself. Furthermore, I had things to mull over.
Of the dozens of comments that
had been tossed off during the visit, Ace Martin’s statement, not even a boast,
that he had shot cows and left them was a remark that I kept coming back to. I
had heard of killing a mama cow in order to make off with her unbranded calf,
but I had never heard a man say he had done it, much less in such a
matter-of-fact tone. I had already decided I didn’t want to take part in this
new plan, and now I was even more certain. I did not want to work with Ace
Martin.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
New Release — Shaping the Story: An Introduction to Writing Fiction by John D. Nesbitt
Shaping the Story is a practical guide to the craft of writing fiction for authors of all levels and abilities.
Award-winning author and scholar John D. Nesbitt has penned an easy-to-use handbook, complete with short stories he references throughout, all under one cover.
Shaping the Story is a complete, professional tool for aspiring creative writers. This book contains discussion, as well as examples and sample stories, to illustrate many of the points made.
Whether you’re writing a short story or a longer piece, this book is a must-have!
EXCERPT
As the title and subtitle suggest, this book provides an introduction into the craft of writing fiction. Its main focus is on short fiction, but most of the principles are applicable to writing longer fiction as well, and frequently the discussion makes such applications. This book treats short story writing as a craft in itself, not just as an apprenticeship for writing novels. Aspiring writers who want a quick fix on how to write a best-selling novel will find better help, or at least better promises, elsewhere. Those who wish to write the best fiction they can, for the sake of writing fiction, may find this book useful.
This book takes a practical approach to fiction writing. It does not present ethereal ideas about writing. Rather, it focuses on craft and technique. It describes elements or aspects of stories, gives examples, and offers suggestions for developing those aspects in one’s own work. It includes exercises in most of the chapters. It also has a chapter on planning a novel—again, practical and methodical and on an introductory level.
In accordance with my belief that writers learn by reading good examples of the kind of work they hope to write, the latter part of the book contains a collection of traditional short stories. The first six chapters of this book contain references to these stories as well as to other well-known, widely available stories and novels. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a note identifying which stories receive attention in the discussion. In the anthology, I have striven for economy and quality in selecting rather short stories by well-known authors. Additionally, I have chosen stories that are out of copyright, so that I might avoid the complications of securing reprint permissions. In the references to other well-known works of fiction, I hope the aspiring writer follows up on some of them as recommendations.
Except for the stories by other authors, the contents of this book are entirely of my own composing and devising. Some of the commentary is based on work I have done for other manuals and textbooks, especially Writing for Real, a college composition text, and Understanding Fiction, a college literature textbook. Anyone wishing to reproduce parts of this work should request written permission.
I hope this book is useful to those who read it. I have tried to take a practical approach, and so there is not much warbling about the Muse, inspiration, creative juices, and the like. Nor are there many inspirational quotations from other writers. In spite of my attempts to be practical, this book will not answer every question and solve every problem for a developing writer. However, it may provide some new insights as well as reinforce some suggestions you have heard before. Taking a broader view than of immediate utility and application, I believe in personal enrichment through reading and writing, and I hope this book serves such a purpose for you.
Award-winning author and scholar John D. Nesbitt has penned an easy-to-use handbook, complete with short stories he references throughout, all under one cover.
Shaping the Story is a complete, professional tool for aspiring creative writers. This book contains discussion, as well as examples and sample stories, to illustrate many of the points made.
Whether you’re writing a short story or a longer piece, this book is a must-have!
EXCERPT
As the title and subtitle suggest, this book provides an introduction into the craft of writing fiction. Its main focus is on short fiction, but most of the principles are applicable to writing longer fiction as well, and frequently the discussion makes such applications. This book treats short story writing as a craft in itself, not just as an apprenticeship for writing novels. Aspiring writers who want a quick fix on how to write a best-selling novel will find better help, or at least better promises, elsewhere. Those who wish to write the best fiction they can, for the sake of writing fiction, may find this book useful.
This book takes a practical approach to fiction writing. It does not present ethereal ideas about writing. Rather, it focuses on craft and technique. It describes elements or aspects of stories, gives examples, and offers suggestions for developing those aspects in one’s own work. It includes exercises in most of the chapters. It also has a chapter on planning a novel—again, practical and methodical and on an introductory level.
In accordance with my belief that writers learn by reading good examples of the kind of work they hope to write, the latter part of the book contains a collection of traditional short stories. The first six chapters of this book contain references to these stories as well as to other well-known, widely available stories and novels. At the beginning of each chapter, there is a note identifying which stories receive attention in the discussion. In the anthology, I have striven for economy and quality in selecting rather short stories by well-known authors. Additionally, I have chosen stories that are out of copyright, so that I might avoid the complications of securing reprint permissions. In the references to other well-known works of fiction, I hope the aspiring writer follows up on some of them as recommendations.
Except for the stories by other authors, the contents of this book are entirely of my own composing and devising. Some of the commentary is based on work I have done for other manuals and textbooks, especially Writing for Real, a college composition text, and Understanding Fiction, a college literature textbook. Anyone wishing to reproduce parts of this work should request written permission.
I hope this book is useful to those who read it. I have tried to take a practical approach, and so there is not much warbling about the Muse, inspiration, creative juices, and the like. Nor are there many inspirational quotations from other writers. In spite of my attempts to be practical, this book will not answer every question and solve every problem for a developing writer. However, it may provide some new insights as well as reinforce some suggestions you have heard before. Taking a broader view than of immediate utility and application, I believe in personal enrichment through reading and writing, and I hope this book serves such a purpose for you.
— John D. Nesbitt
Trade paperback coming soon.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
New Release — Tales of the Old West — A Collection of Seven Classic Western Stories
Saddle up and ride the dangerous range of Indian Territory, search for a deadly mysterious beast, track outlaws, or solve a grisly mystery—and never leave your easy chair! This collection makes a great gift to yourself or other fans of TALES OF THE OLD WEST!
"Pearl of Great Price" by John D. Nesbitt
"Rescue Trail" and "The Last Warrant" by Darrel Sparkman
"Hidden Trails" by Cheryl Pierson
"The Beast of Dead Mule Gulch" by David W. Amendola
"The Bad Hombres" by Livia J. Washburn
"The Prophet Mountains" by James Reasoner
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
New Release — PEARL OF GREAT PRICE by John D. Nesbitt
Mr. Thorne, a mysterious traveler posing as a writer, arrives in a small Wyoming town—but why is he really there? When his colleague, Miss Greer, joins him, he discovers that the townsfolk can be downright unfriendly.
The two of them are after the worst kind of criminal—one who deals in artifacts of a grisly nature—and they intend to stop him, no matter what his position might be. Will their luck hold as they confront him—and discover what he keeps hidden in his basement?
EXCERPT
“Are you going to put me in a story? I hope not.”
Thorne waved his hand. “Not if you don’t want me to.”
“I’ll tell you why,” said the proprietor. “I like customers, and company, of course, but I’m a bit shy all the same. I wouldn’t care to be in the public eye.”
“I understand.”
Roberts nodded. “You seem like a trustworthy chap, or I wouldn’t have told you as much as I have. I would be like one of these laconic natives.”
“The kind that like to make fun of greenhorns?”
“There are plenty of that type, of course.” Roberts flipped the pieces of pork and the slices of potato, sending up a sizzle. Turning to Thorne, he said, “I could show you something you won’t see much of out here, but you have to promise me you won’t put it in a story.”
“You have my word.”
“Follow me, then.”
The two of them are after the worst kind of criminal—one who deals in artifacts of a grisly nature—and they intend to stop him, no matter what his position might be. Will their luck hold as they confront him—and discover what he keeps hidden in his basement?
EXCERPT
“Are you going to put me in a story? I hope not.”
Thorne waved his hand. “Not if you don’t want me to.”
“I’ll tell you why,” said the proprietor. “I like customers, and company, of course, but I’m a bit shy all the same. I wouldn’t care to be in the public eye.”
“I understand.”
Roberts nodded. “You seem like a trustworthy chap, or I wouldn’t have told you as much as I have. I would be like one of these laconic natives.”
“The kind that like to make fun of greenhorns?”
“There are plenty of that type, of course.” Roberts flipped the pieces of pork and the slices of potato, sending up a sizzle. Turning to Thorne, he said, “I could show you something you won’t see much of out here, but you have to promise me you won’t put it in a story.”
“You have my word.”
“Follow me, then.”
Friday, August 12, 2016
New Release -- CODE OF THE WEST Six Classic Western Novels in a Boxed Set -- Only 99 cents
Are you ready to ride into the old west with six fantastic
tales of outlaws, lawmen, Apaches and ex-gunmen? There’s nothing like
outwitting a band of Apache warriors, facing down a man with a hard grudge, or
standing with a brother you don’t agree with—because he’s your blood—and doing
it all from your easy chair! Each and every one of these tales of the west are
guaranteed to keep you turning pages. You’ll share these hard-hitting action
adventures as surely as if you were standing in the dusty Texas heat or the
wilds of Indian Territory alongside the outlaws, marshals, and bounty hunters
captured in the pages of CODE OF THE WEST! So, DRAW…if you dare!
ONE-EYED COWBOY WILD by John D. Nesbitt
Gene Hill welcomes his brother Zeke home, but some of Zeke’s
new habits have him worried. When Zeke takes up an old feud with the Bickford
brothers, Gene has no choice but to stand with his blood—even if it costs him
the woman he loves…or his life.
THE OUTLAW, BILLY STARBUCK by Kit Prate
When Will Simpson decides to turn outlaw, he does it up
right! Robbing trains will bring him the fame and wealth he craves—and will
also ensure he’ll end up with the girl he loves. But his first train robbery
goes awry and he makes a lifelong enemy of payroll guard Kyle Lassiter, who
loses his arm in the heist.
GHOST RIVER by Livia J. Washburn
After his entire hometown turns against him for a crime he
didn't commit, Jacob Travers runs away and joins a gang of bank robbers. But
when a job goes bad and Travers is seriously wounded, he sees the man he
considers his only friend turn tail and run—leaving him to die or be caught.
Disillusioned but determined to survive, Travers crawls to the site of a
deserted trading post in Ghost River—a place he never knew existed—where he
recovers, repents, and swears to stay clean. Life has a way of making that
difficult, however.
HALF-BREED LAW by Chuck Tyrell
Halfbreed marshal Garet Havelock sets off across the Mojave
Desert to retrieve $100,000 in stolen gold bullion. Fate has served up its own
brand of justice when he realizes the man he’s after is the Yankee raider who
shot him years before, Buzz Donovan. But Donovan is pure evil, and Havelock is
the only man who can stop his cruel atrocities with a taste of HALFBREED LAW…if
he lives through it.
ONCE A DROVER by Jerry Guin
Trouble seems to find Sam Hall, no matter how he tries to
avoid it, from St. Louis to Fort Worth and the wide plains in between. But when
Sam comes home to Texas to see after his aunt’s spread, he’s determined to
settle down. Fate says differently when a woman in need of his help turns up
unexpectedly. No matter what his good
intentions were, he must take up his gun once more to save her life.
RIDE THE WILD RANGE by Cheryl Pierson
Young Will Green's entire family is murdered by Red Eagle's
Apache renegades. During the long days and nights of captivity, Will plans his
vengeance as only a ten-year-old boy can. But those plans are thwarted, along
with his own imminent death, by a lone stranger who boldly walks into the
Apache camp and forcefully takes Will from the band of warriors. Angry and
humiliated, the Indians swear to follow Will and his savior as soon as they can
round up their horses—and they won't stop until blood runs red.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
New Releases -- SUNDOWN PRESS WESTERN GALA -- Giveaway!
Get ready for an
action-packed collection of stories of the Old West from SUNDOWN PRESS! TRIPLE
SHOT WESTERNS is a unique anthology of nine tales from three of the best
western writers in the business. This classic western collection will keep you
reading until you finish every story—miners, lawmen, outlaws, drifters and
mountain men come alive in these tales you will not want to miss!
BUY LINKS Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords Kobo
Gene Hill welcomes his
brother Zeke home, but some of Zeke’s new habits have him worried. When Zeke
takes up an old feud with the Bickford brothers, Gene has no choice but to
stand with his blood—even if it costs him the woman he loves…or his life.
BUY LINKS Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords Kobo
When
Clay Westbrook steps in to stop his boss’s bullying of sheepherder Tony Campos,
he’s fired. But that’s not the worst of it. Clay discovers the ranch owner’s
part in a corrupt land grab—and Clay’s small spread is right in the middle of it.
With a beautiful woman at his side and some unexpected help, Clay is determined
to make things right once more—if he can stay alive long enough.
BUY LINKS Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords Kobo
Henry
Sommers is an honest rancher who only wants to be left alone to work his
spread. When he declines to take part in a swindle neighbor Van O’Leary has
planned, trouble stalks his ranch. O’Leary must leave town on business, and his
wife, Dora, divulges details of his unsavory dealings to Henry. O’Leary’s past
catches up with him when he’s found dead—but which of his many enemies killed
him?
BUY LINKS Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords Kobo
HALFBREED
LAW by Chuck Tyrell
Halfbreed marshal Garet
Havelock sets off across the Mojave Desert to retrieve $100,000 in stolen gold
bullion. Fate has served up its own brand of justice when he realizes the man
he’s after is the Yankee raider who shot him years before, Buzz Donovan. But
Donovan is pure evil, and Havelock is the only man who can stop his cruel
atrocities with a taste of HALFBREED LAW…if he lives through it.
BUY LINKS Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords Kobo
Danger stalks U.S.
Marshal Alistair Taggart as Kansas pushes for statehood, and further violence
escalates as the Civil War begins. Taggart must deal with cattle rustlers and
highwaymen near the Kansas territorial capital of Lecompton, but is he getting
too old for the job? A Kansas twister is the least of his worries in the
resolution of a tough case that will cost him dearly.
BUY LINKS Amazon Barnes and Noble Smashwords Kobo
Be sure and leave a comment for a chance to win all 6 ebooks!
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